London Eye

Book one of our Licensed London Black Taxis Online or phone +44 (0)7779 336 612

London is one of the world’s most visited cities. Dating back to roman times, it hosts both historical and modern attractions. If you are planning on visiting London, you have probably considered what you would like to see in the time you are there–from Buckingham palace to the London Eye. There is no doubt you will have a whole itinerary drawn up to help you make the most of your time. One aspect of London that should not be overlooked is the city’s iconic licensed black taxis. These are a true symbol of the London streetscape alongside the city’s red double-decker buses. When you visit London make sure you take a trip in a licensed black taxi, for a real experience of this great city’s culture.

If you are planning a visit to London, you are probably aware it is one of the most expensive cities in the world. Restaurant visits and days out can cost a fortune, and often tourists have to miss out on certain attractions due to their budgets. However there are ways to save money when visiting London, a wide range of online discount vouchers are available to save you money when visiting the UK’s capital.

You are now able to save money on entry to some of London’s top tourist attractions through using online voucher sites. Offers available include up to 50% off entry to the London Dungeon, where gory historical events are recreated using actors and rides. There are vouchers available online that can offer 2-for-1 entry to the London Eye. This is a great saving on one of the UK’s top attractions that provides stunning views across the city from as high as 135 metres. Vouchers are also available for Madam Tussauds, the waxwork museum that attracts millions of visitors each year and is famous for bringing pop and film stars to life as well as historical figures. These are only a few examples of the vouchers available to help you save money on top London tourist attractions. There are many vouchers to be found online that can help you get exclusive discounts on top London attractions.

Online vouchers are also accessible for eating out in London. There are some great savings to be made when eating out if you use online voucher codes or printable vouchers. Moneysupermarket.com are currently offering some exclusive discounts for restaurants in London. You can get up to 50% off a meal in the capital or two courses for £10. It is also possible to experience some of London’s famous fine dining for less. So whether you are looking for a quick bite for lunch or a luxury meal out to celebrate your time in London, there is a voucher out there for you.

Vouchers are also on offer to help you save money on luxury spa treatments in London; perfect to help you relax after spending a day sightseeing.

London is one of the shopping capitals of the world; make the most out of your London shopping experience by using printable vouchers to help you save money in some of London’s best shops.

Before you visit London, it is well worth a look on some of the UK’s voucher site. They can help you make your money go further and allow you to do so much more whilst in city. Many of the vouchers are printable vouchers that need to be printed off and taken to the retailers. However some of the vouchers have voucher codes that can be used and nothing has to be printed off. There are also great voucher iphone apps available that can give you instant access to money saving vouchers.

–A money saving guide from Jessica Bourne

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To Book one of our Licensed London Black Taxis:

• by phone – +44 (0)7779 336 612
  
• online – use our booking form and enter some information about your needs in the Special Instructions box
• or send us a message with any questions you might have

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Book a Licensed London Black Taxi Online or phone +44 (0)7779 336 612

Heron International has begun development of Heron Tower at 110 Bishopsgate in the City of London.

The unfinished Heron Tower is already set to be the tallest London attraction in the city.

Still under construction, Heron Tower near London Bridge already stands head and shoulders above Tower 42 in the City.

The new office building will be completed by the first quarter 2011. Heron Tower is a multi-occupied building which will provide world class office space, setting the standards for offices of the future.

The glass structure will stand at an impressive 246 metres when it is finished, and will be the tallest building in the UK, surpassing Canada Square’s Canary Wharf.

Its design is both visionary and environmentally focused. Heron Tower has been designed by the leading international architectural practice Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), a firm recognised for design excellence and innovation in tower buildings.

Heron Tower, for better or worse, will alter the appearance of the London skyline for years to come.

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To Book a Licensed London Black Taxi:

• by phone – +44 (0)7779 336 612
• online – use our booking form
• or send us a message with any questions you might have

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www.londonblacktaxis.net

+44 (0)7779 336 612

Book a Licensed London Black Taxi Online or phone +44 (0)7779 336 612

The London Eye has become a world wide recognized London landmark. This year the beautiful London Eye will celebrate its 10th anniversay. To kick off the year of celebrations, Merlin Entertainment, will be offering free rides on the historic landmark. If you are lucky enough to be in London tomorrow morning be sure to queue up between 9:50 am. and 10 am. for your chance to ride the Eye for free.

It is hard to believe that this iconic landmark is already ten years old, but is is even harder to envision the banks of the Thames without it. The London Eye which was built at the end of the last decade, is the most visited paid attraction in the United Kingdom. In ten short years this attraction has become a very recognizable and loved part of the city of London. The London Eye has been in numerous films and tourists’ photos. This site is a must see when in London.

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To Book a Licensed London Black Taxi:

• by phone – +44 (0)7779 336 612
• online – use our booking form
• or send us a message with any questions you might have

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Book a Taxi Online or phone +44 (0)7779 336 612

One of my favourite London “What’s On” guides is Skiddle.

Looking for a night out in London? Check Skiddle’s London Events guide for the latest club nights, gig dates, discount tickets, and event news. Or maybe you need a London restaurant or London hotel? No problem, Skiddle has got it covered.  The best part of their Events Guide is the Event Search–you can search a particular date range and for a particular event type.

In London, there is always something to do but not enough time to do it in. With beautiful parks, shops, museums, and theatres, London has an abundance of reasons to visit.

As you will see from Skiddle’s “What’s on Guide,” there is always something on offer to please everyone. London not only boasts some of the country’s biggest and best clubs but the array of bars, restaurants, live music events, and comedy nights mean that there is always something to do in the evenings.

Skiddle also offers tickets for clubs, festivals, gigs and other events (in London and elsewhere in the UK).
They guarantee you won’t buy eTickets cheaper elsewhere.

I especially like Skiddle’s London Christmas Guide–your guide to London’s christmas lights, ice skating rinks, famous Christmas trees, and London Christmas Shopping venues.

And then there is Skiddle’s London New Years Eve Guide. With so many New Year’s Eve parties in London, Skiddle has picked a selection of the best.

And how are you going to get around to all these London events and attractions that Skiddle has helped you find? London Black Taxis.net, of course! Book a taxi with us for London tours, shopping trips, and transport to and from the airport. For added comfort and luxury, you might be interested in our First Class Service–limousine luxury at taxi prices.

To Book a taxi:

• by phone – +44 (0)7779 336 612
• online – use our booking form
• or send us a message with any questions you might have

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www.londonblacktaxis.net

+44 (0)7779 336 612

Book a Harry Potter Taxi Tour Online or phone +44 (0)7779 336 612

See the London film locations used in all 6 films.

• Stop for a photo shoot at ‘Platform 9 ¾’!
• Have that camera ready again as we approach the ‘Leaky Cauldron’ and walk in the footsteps of Harry and Hagrin in the Victorian Leadenhall Market
• Check out ‘Gringotts Wizards Bank’!
• Follow the route of the ‘Knight Bus’ around those little streets!
• Brockdale Bridge is in one piece and you can walk across it!
• Pick-up and drop-off at any central London location

Prices

For current prices, please visit our Harry Potter page.

All cabs are wheelchair accessible

To Book:

• by phone – +44 (0)7779 336 612
• online – use our booking form and enter “Harry Potter Tour” in the Special Instructions box
• or send us a message with any questions you might have

For More Information

Visit our Harry Potter page

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www.londonblacktaxis.net

+44 (0)7779 336 612

Book a Taxi Online or phone +44 (0)7779 336 612

Long layover at Heathrow? What to do with all those hours between connecting flights? How about a taxi tour of London?

We can pick you up at Heathrow and give you a tour of Central London. You can stop for photos as you wish, grab some souvenirs and maybe even a quick lunch. Then we will deliver you back to your departing terminal in time for your connecting flight.

As an example, with a 4-hour layover, you could see:

Harrods
Wellington Arch
Buckingham Palace
St. James Park
Horseguards
Westminster Abbey
Houses of Parliament
London Eye
Lambeth Palace
Whitehall
Trafalgar Square
National Gallery
Picadilly Circus

Or let us know what you want to see. Our drivers have such extensive knowledge of London that you can see more in a few hours than you ever thought possible.

To Book:

• by phone – +44 (0)7779 336 612
• online – use our booking form and enter “Flight Layover Tour of London” in the Special Instructions box along with details of the length of your layover and what you would like to see
• or send us a message with any questions you might have

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www.londonblacktaxis.net

+44 (0)7779 336 612

Book a Taxi Tour Online or phone +44 (0)7779 336 612 or send us a message.

Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London (and historically as The Tower), is a historic monument in central London, England, on the north bank of the River Thames. It is located within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and is separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill. It is the oldest building used by the British government.

The Tower of London is often identified with the White Tower, the original stark square fortress built by William the Conqueror in 1078. However, the tower as a whole is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat.

The tower’s primary function was a fortress, a royal palace, and a prison (particularly for high status and royal prisoners, such as the Princes in the Tower and the future Queen Elizabeth I). This last use has led to the phrase “sent to the Tower” (meaning “imprisoned”). It has also served as a place of execution and torture, an armoury, a treasury, a zoo, the Royal Mint, a public records office, an observatory, and since 1303, the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.

Book a Taxi Tour Online or phone +44 (0)7779 336 612 or send us a message.

Book a Taxi Online or phone +44 (0)7779 336 612

Big Ben, the famous bell inside the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament, celebrates its 150th anniversary on Saturday.

The Great Bell, which resides inside one of the country’s most famous and most photographed landmarks, first struck the hour on July 11 1859.

Although the nickname Big Ben is often used to describe the clock tower, the name was originally given to the bell itself.

The origin of the name is thought to come from Sir Benjamin Hall, the First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings, whose name is inscribed on the bell.

The anniversary will be marked with a night-time projection on the tower reading: “Happy Birthday Big Ben, 150 years, 1859 – 2009.”

Mike McCann, Keeper of the Great Clock, said: “After 150 years, Big Ben still holds a special place in the hearts of Londoners and the world as a magnificent example of engineering and building genius.”

Architect Charles Barry designed the new Palace of Westminster after a fire destroyed the old Houses of Parliament in 1834.

The clock tower was completed in 1859 and the clock first started on May 31 of that year, with the bell sounding for the first time just over a month later.

The first bell was cast in 1856 but cracked the following year under testing.

The second bell, weighing 13.7 tonnes, was cast on April 10 1858. It took 30 hours to winch into the belfry.

But its success was short-lived and in September 1859 it also cracked.

It was silent for four years until, in 1863, it was turned so the hammer struck a different spot.

A lighter hammer was also put to use and a small square cut in the bell to prevent the crack from spreading.

The clock tower stands 315ft tall, with each of the four dials measuring 23ft in diameter.

The original cast-iron minute hands proved too heavy and were replaced with 14 feet long copper hands which travel a distance equal to 118 miles every year.

The hour hands are 9ft long and are made of gun metal while 312 separate pieces of glass in each clock face.

Over the years the clock has been stopped accidentally on several occasions, by weather, workmen, breakages and birds.

In 1976 the Great Clock was shut down for a total of 26 days over nine months when part of the chiming mechanism disintegrated through metal fatigue.

You can see Big Ben and other fabulous London sights on one of our famous Taxi Tours.

+44 (0)7779 336 612

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Each of the London Eye’s 32 capsules will be taken in turn by barge down the Thames for refurbishment between now and the 2012 Olympic Games, it was announced on Monday.

Merlin Entertainments – who also own the London Dungeon – bought the London Eye just over two years ago and have now announced plans to invest approximately £12.5 million to upgrade the UK’s number one paid-for visitor attraction.

The observation wheel on the South Bank has received more than 33 million visitors since it opened to the public in 2000.

The programme to remove and upgrade each of the 32 capsules starts this summer and is scheduled be completed in time for the London 2012 Olympics. Normal operation of the wheel will be unaffected.

As each capsule is removed it will travel down the Thames to Silvertown where it will be loaded onto a truck and transported to a workshop in Worcester. A non-operational capsule will take its place on the London Eye until the refurbished capsule is returned.

“This will ensure the London Eye operates at maximum efficiency and is cutting down its carbon footprint well into the future,” says David Sharpe of Merlin Entertainments.

“Merlin believes that investment is more important than ever in the current economic climate when both local and international visitors to attractions like the London Eye are looking for real value for their leisure pound.

“Investments like these are also very important in the leisure and tourism industry in the UK as a whole, especially with the Olympics coming to London in 2012.”

In 2005 one of the Eye’s capsules was removed to assess the effects of the first five years of operation and to explore what could be done to improve the experience for visitors, the structure’s longevity and environmental sustainability.

Merlin Entertainments claim that this latest project will ensure that no major maintenance works will be necessary on the capsules for the next 15 to 20 years.

The heating and ventilation system will be upgraded to a more efficient, environmentally friendly one.

One of the upgraded capsules will include four ceiling-mounted screens and enhanced multimedia and wi-fi capabilities enabling the capsule to provide music and on-screen visuals.

Merlin Entertainments has recently completed a revamp of the nearby Sea Life London Aquariam at County Hall.

+44 (0)7779 336 612

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Book a Taxi Online or phone +44 (0)7779 336 612

There are still some corners of London where quirky fashion, contemporary art, & cultural food thrives.

Go East to find areas that thrive with items crafted by young British designers. Brick Lane is one of those areas.

An old building that used to be the Truman Brewery stands out from the rest of the street and is packed with independent shops. The Truman Brewery has been an important creative and cultural hub.

One shop at the old brewery sells clothing made out recycled material. You can make a one-of-a-kind item from one of your old garments; just bring it to the shop and the designer will make it into a new item for you. Other shops sell vintage clothing. You can get an East London Quirky Shopping guide from visitlondon.com

Many shops in the area encourage young designers to display their collections by offering affordable rental rates, allowing talent scouts from major chains to find budding designers.

Besides Brick Lane and the Truman Brewery, East London has several neighborhoods boasting dozens of independent shops. Socially aware shoppers can buy a wedge card from www.wedgecard.co.uk for 10 pounds, of which 5 goes to a local charity. The card allows you to support local shops while obtaining special offers and discounts from over 150 businesses in the East End.

Apart from shopping, East London is also increasingly known for contemporary art, with many galleries, museums and shops. With more than 80 art galleries, there’s something for everyone’s taste in the East End. Don’t miss the famous WhiteCube and Whitechapel Art Gallery, but also look out for hidden gems scattered all around this area waiting to be discovered. Dozens of the area’s galleries host cultural events and contemporary art exhibitions.

And talk about food! If you’re after comfort food, Brick Lane is THE place for bagels and baltis. If you are craving a curry or just need a quick bite, head for the famous Brick Lane Beigel Bake, which is ALWAYS open–24 hours a day, 365 days a year. (You are sure to see one or two London Black Taxi drivers in there at any time of the day or night!)

At visitlondon.com, you can download a guide called DIY East that will show you where to find East London’s quirky fashion, comtemporary art, and posh (and not so posh) nosh.

+44 (0)7779 336 612

www.londonblacktaxis.net

www.london-taxis.net

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